Tuesday morning headlines

Wall Street gets traction: Libyan crisis still a concern, but investors may be looking to move on. Dow is up about 60 points.

Oil prices ease: More rumbles that Qaddafi might be prepping an end game, but in the meantime some of the big oil companies and banks have stopped trading oil with Libya. So it's a muddle. (WSJ)

Brown's budget plan in serious jeopardy: Losing the potential support of five Republican senators is a very big deal. From the SF Chronicle:

"If you know any Republicans, tell them that he or she should vote to give the people a voice," Brown said at the meeting a few blocks from the Capitol, where he spoke and answered questions about the budget and the plan to close a $26.6 billion deficit. He added later that, "I think it might take a few more days than (the target date) at the rate we're going."

Boeing's big aircraft sale: The aerospace giant has reached deals with Air China, which will purchase five 747s, and Hong Kong Airlines, which will purchase 30 Dreamliners and six freighters. Perhaps more service to LAX? From the NYT:

The announcements, made at an aerospace show in Hong Kong, demonstrated just how rapidly many Asian carriers are expanding and how important the region has become for manufacturers like Boeing and Airbus. The market for air travel and freight services has grown dramatically in Asia thanks to the region's rapid economic growth. Asia-Pacific carriers are forecast to generate collective profits of about $3.7 billion this year, the International Air Transport Association estimated last week. That makes the region the world's biggest in terms of earnings.

Election Day in L.A.: A bunch of ballot measures and seven City Council races are up for grabs. Councilmen Bernard Parks and Jose Huizar are considered vulnerable. Polls will open at 7 a.m. and close at 8 p.m. (LAT)

New smoking restrictions: Starting today, you'll only be able to light up 10 or more feet from L.A. restaurants (and 40 feet from food trucks). Councilman Bernard Parks wants the no-smoking zone extended to all businesses, parks, apartment common areas, and beaches. (LA Weekly)

Caruso complex breaks ground: The $60-million apartment and retail development is near the L.A. developer's Grove shopping center. It's one of the few projects to reach the construction stage since the downturn. (LAT)

LAX concession deal thrown open: This time it's over a potential conflict involving Kelly Martin, who was the city's lead lawyer for the airport until earlier this year and whose husband works for a law firm that represents developer Rick Caruso - one of the concession bidders. (Daily Breeze)

AEG files paperwork for downtown stadium: The environmental review is supposed to include such issues as smart growth and connections to transit. "We know that people are not all going to park on-site. We don't intend them to--there aren't the spaces," says an AEG attorney. A draft EIR is expected by the end of the year. (Blogdowntown)

Oprah forced to reboot?: Ratings are so bad that the lineup for her new cable network will be reshuffled in the next few weeks. Advertisers are apparently getting antsy. From the NY Post:

Barely two months after its launch, the network -- after insisting that everything so far was going along as planned -- is starting to move around the furniture. The network has cut back the number of nights with original shows from four to three (Friday night was dropped) in the new reboot.